Indo-Canada Outlook

Shujaat Bukhari: Another Voice Of Reason Silenced

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Shujaat Bukhari, Editor of Rising Kashmir and a man of deep conviction, known through his fearless writings fell to the bullets of assassins on June 15 at the time when festive season of Eid is approaching after the culmination of the holy month of Ramadhan. Bukhari’s killing also shows us how difficult it is for the journalists of the Kashmiri origin particularly Muslims, to work in such a difficult circumstances as the militants would not like any Kashmiri to influence public opinion against them.

Shujaat Bukhari was among very few who welcomed open heartedly the announcement made by home minister Rajnath Singh even when a majority of those who matters in the valley did not support it. He wrote in his article two days back that though New Delhi can’t be trusted but we have to utilise these occasions. He called the halting of operations by the armed forces as a sane decision.

Churches Conspiring with the Vatican to Destabilize Government?

Right-wing Hindu nationalist organization, The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has accused the Indian churches of conspiring with the Vatican to destabilize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The Hindutva organization’s accusation came after the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Father Filipe Neri Ferrao, wrote a letter to churches saying the Constitution is in danger.

In May, Archbishop of Delhi Anil Couto had said in a letter to parishes that there was a “turbulent political atmosphere” in the country, and asked them to “pray for the country”.

“Churches in India are in collusion with the Vatican, and are trying to create an atmosphere of distrust against the present government,” said Surendra Jain, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad joint general secretary, in New Delhi on Wednesday (June 6). “The Constitution of India is in danger because of the attacking political stand of the church and its agenda of religious conversions,” the Scroll quoted him as saying.

Indian Farmers On Strike Path, Dump Vegetables, Milk On Road

June 4 - Indian farmers are on a 10-day long nationwide strike demanding fair prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Commission recommendations and farm loan waivers among other things. They are throwing vegetables and pouring milk on the road the farmers are letting out their grievances. The farmers are also preventing the movement of their produce to cities. This has caused the price of vegetables to soar in the market.

Called by the All India Kisan Mahasangh, the strike is being staged in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan among other states, disrupting the transport and the supply of essential goods across multiple markets in various states.

Sikh Police Officer Facing Death Threats Goes Underground

Saved A Muslim Boy From Being Lynched

Police officer Gagan Deep Singh, who had saved a young Muslim boy from being lynched by a Hindutva mob, is facing death threats and has gone underground. His family members are also facing death threats from local RSS and BJP leaders. The reason: he defended “indecent behaviour”.

The police inspector in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand shot to fame after saving a Muslim boy from a lynch mob which attacked him for being with his Hindu girlfriend on the premises of a temple. Gagan Deep Singh is now sent on leave, say his colleagues. His seniors in the police department are not protecting them. The Senior Superintendent of Police of Nainital district says that he would like to first provide counseling to him before thinking of any action against Gagan Deep Singh, as if it was his fault.

Grassroots India Beginning To Beat Plastic Pollution

By Sudha Ramachandran

A 32-year-old Rajeswari Singh launched on a six-week marathon mission on World Earth Day setting out to walk some 1,100 kilometres from Vadodara in western India to reach New Delhi on World Environment Day on June 5, spreading a simple message 'Stop using plastic', and accentuating it by forgoing all the way any kind of plastic packaged drinks or food.

In fact, she hasn’t used any kind of plastic over the past decade. Besides, her message echoes the theme of this year's World Environment Day – 'Beat plastic pollution' – with India, among the world’s top ten consumers of plastic, playing global host.

The Story of Broken People of India

By Aniruddha Vithal Babar

Freedom is not a gift but a prize which has to be won with valour and sacrifices. From Gautama Buddha and Mahaveer to Phule, Shahu, Ambedkar, Periyar, and Annabhau, the world of ‘Broken People’ has seen great ‘saviours’ and warriors who uplifted them from the quicksand of religious slavery and social persecution. However, notwithstanding, it should be the duty of every member of persecuted communities of Dalits and Tribals to lead the struggle to annihilate the caste, discrimination and slavery.

Corruption: India Ranks Amongst Most Corrupt

By Ronak D Desai

India continues to be among the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International.

The international corruption watchdog released its closely watched Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries based upon institutional perceptions of public sector corruption on a scale of 0-100. A score of zero indicates a “highly corrupt” nation while 100 indicates a “very clean” one. The CPI has emerged as one of the leading barometers of public sector corruption in the world.

First-ever UN Human Rights Report on Kashmir

Call for international inquiry into multiple violations

By A Correspondent

There is an urgent need to address past and ongoing human rights violations and abuses and deliver justice for all people in Kashmir, who for seven decades have suffered a conflict that has claimed or ruined numerous lives, a report by the UN Human Rights Office published on June 14 says.

The 49-page report – the first ever issued by the UN on the human rights situation in Indian-Administered and Pakistan-Administered Kashmir – details human rights violations and abuses on both sides of the Line of Control, and highlights a situation of chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces.

How A Mumbai Couple Is Helping To Change The World

By Moin Qazi

Historians will tell you that a burst of creativity occurs when we start believing that the search for solutions to complex problems has come to an end. This explosion is fate’s way of reminding us that there is always something just over the curve of innovation.

As the country continues to face mounting challenges, social entrepreneurs are pairing their ingenuity and knowledge with their passion for bringing lasting solutions to the world’s most urgent social challenges and creating a sustainable and more equitable world. They are making visible impact of their ideas in diverse areas, from civic engagement to sanitation, environment, and health; human rights to learning and education and social justice to women’s rights.

Citizenship Amendment Bill and the People of Assam

By Suhail Mohammed

Most recently,the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has been the talk of every nook and corner of the state with people from all walks of life joining the bandwagon and raising voices against the ill-fated bill.The state has witnessed severe protest over the past few weeks and protesting slogans even beat the deep blowing horns and revving engines of lumbering trucks on the national highways across the state.The peace loving state has all of a sudden sensed odd that could dismantle the rich social fabric and harmony.This is happening at a time when the cumbersome National Registration of Citizens is still in progress in the state. The people have been struck a dual blow and anxiety is at peak amongst the people.